A review by kamckim
So Long a Letter by Mariama Bâ

3.0

My entry from Senegal, So Long a Letter, is an epistolary novel from Ramatoulaye to her friend, recounts the struggles of R's life after her husband has died. She is the first wife and has no recourse after her husband's family and his second wife inherit everything. She uses her words to fill her sense of loss and reflect on the changes in the family, the tradition and the nation of Senegal as it transitioned from an African to a colonized to a modern nation. It is interesting if you are reading post-colonial African or feminist pieces. Personally, I grew a bit weary of the narrator's voice. However, it is still an important story to tell. Readers unfamiliar with Senegalese culture or Islamic culture may have a difficult time connecting some of the more subtle references to culture or fail to grasp the significance of some passages that would have more import for the Senegalese.